Naturetrek to once again fund Wildlife Explorers in 2026

In 2025, Naturetrek funded the full year’s programme of Wildlife Explorers wildlife events, enabling them to be offered free of charge to all members of the club, and we are delighted to be doing so again for 2026! Wildlife Explorers is a dynamic wildlife club based in the New Forest, founded and operated by naturalists Marcus Ward and Emily-Louise Griffin. It provides a valuable opportunity for young naturalists to develop their passion for nature and the environment, learn from local experts in all aspects of natural history and its conservation, and meet and mingle with other wildlife enthusiasts.

Marcus said: "Highlights from the Wildlife Explorers events in 2025 included bird ringing demonstrations, Fungi Explorers sessions, bird song identification workshops, tree identification walks and exciting Bioblitz events. At every session we learnt something new about the incredible wildlife of the New Forest, and it has been wonderful to see each Explorer grow in confidence and knowledge month by month. In 2026, in addition to all these popular events, we have also introduced a dedicated wildlife survey project. This allows the Explorers to gain hands-on experience in monitoring species and understanding conservation in action."

The Wildlife Explorers are also running a FREE open day at Wilverley (in the New Forest) on 12th April (10:00am–2:00pm). This is a wonderful opportunity for young nature lovers to meet the team, hear from our current Explorers and enjoy a live bird ringing demonstration. It’s the perfect chance for children to discover whether Wildlife Explorers could be their next big adventure!

We look forward to seeing what 2026 will bring!